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Summary: The Game's Afoot!
Review: I'm not sure why Francis J. McInerney panned this book but compaired with much of what paases for mystery novels today it was great. Historical novels always have the danger of not maintaining the period the exist in. Akunin knows what Russian life was like near the end of the monarchy-he captured it with a true feeling. I'm sure some of the nuances were lsot but the translation was remarkable - I had a Russian friend read sections, she was very familiar with the novel. As a fan of this genre I look forward to more translated novels - maybe even a TV series like other European detectives.
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Summary: Please let's have more Yakunin in English
Review: I absolutely love this book. Moreover, I am absolutely certain that there will be people who will not be able to stand it at all. That's fine with me. Fandorin is a man trying to make sense of a society operating in a region beyond sense. His desire to fit into that society is doomed to be eternally at odds with his desire to make sense of that society as a man appointed to enforce its laws. By the end of the story, the reader will realize how much was at stake in this struggle and recognize Fandorin as a man who can never give up but also can never win. I look forward to the future translations of Yakunin's work.
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Summary: Dostoevsky's world in action
Review: The novel starts slowly but then shifts into high gear with many twists and turns until the very end when it grinds to a crashing halt. I imagine the author either will or has continued to chase the Lady Adair? in subsequent works. His main character is a winner-Fandorin? and it would make a great A&E mystery movie as it is a period piece. All in all worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: To all those waiting for the new Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle -- the wait is over. This is a must-read for the lovers of high-quality mystery novels. The storyline is suspenseful and emotional, the setting is charming, the language is delightful. You will not be able to put it down. Honestly.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: It seems to me that one can not possibly ride the Metro (Subway) in Moscow without seeing someone sitting there, engrossed in a Boris Akunin book. Not being fluent enough in Russian to actually sit down and read a book from cover to cover (Yet), I always wondered what all the fuss was. Now, I see...great book by a wonderful author. My hope is that all of his books get translated.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book!!!
Review: It's an amazing book, the plot is brilliant, and I am sure the movie will be very interesting. I would recommend this book to any intelligent reader who likes suspense and history.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent piece of literature
Review: I read this book in Russian (I read all of Akunin's book about Fandorin). He is one of the best writers Russia has to offer right now. He is intelligent, writes with such great detail, that you'd think he lived in 1800's Russia. All of the books continue as Fandorin grows up, and becomes better at what he does. His methods, while common nowdays, are brand new to that era and generations. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the likes of Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, etc. Also, a good book to learn about Czarist Russian.
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Summary: This novel is great in original
Review: I can't speak for an English translation. From a couple of pages I read, it does seem that it does not give the book its justice. Akunin is a wonderful writer in Russian, and the first one in the long time who created wonderful stories that are both enterteining and intellectual. Other books in the series are great. They do a great justice to the world of pre-revolutionary russia as seen through the modern eyes. Each novel has a different theme (one of the follow ups is based on anti-tzar terrorists active in 19th Russian -- the subject rarely discussed in Russian literature either contemporary or modern). Definetely worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasing first novel
Review: by an interesting author. I recommend you search the web for "Boris Akunin" interviews, as well as other reviews of this book (they are overwhelmingly positive). Since the Editorial Review above adequately describes the novel, I'm not going to re-hash it and perhaps inadvertantly spoil something for a future reader. Instead, I'll use this space as I believe it's intended (namely, to tell you what I liked and disliked about the book). As one of the managers employed by the world's largest bookstore chain I am exposed to, and actually find the time to read, a great number of mystery books. As such, and despite the need to overlook some of the far-fetched aspects of the plot (but hey, what's a secret agent story without a bit of unreality), I hereby pronounce this book to be A CUT ABOVE THE NORM (that's an officially copyrighted term-of-art, of course). Seriously, though, I found this book to be quite enjoyable for, mainly, three reasons: Beautiful language, such as the opening sentence, "On Monday the thirteenth of May in the year 1876, between the hours of two and three in the afternoon on a day that combined the freshness of spring with the warmth of summer, numerous individuals in Moscow's Alexander Gardens unexpectedly found themselves eyewitnesses to the perpetration of an outrage that flagrantly transgressed the bounds of common decency;" the exotic historical settings (1876 Russia AND England); and, most importantly, superior characterization. The author does a good job of evolving a likeable but naive and pampered low-level agent (Erast Fandorin) into a more experienced but still wet-behind-the-ears, high-level agent (keep in mind the Fandorin adventures will span 12 books and many years in Erast's life, so there are probably better showings to come from our hero). Where Mr. Akunin (whose pen-name translates from the Japanese, or so I've read, as "villain" or "evil") really excels is in his creation of likable/sympathetic/ruthless "bad guys." In my opinion, nothing completes a work of violent entertainment like a great villain (think Alan Rickman in Die Hard, if you'll pardon the switch from books to movies). While it is, admittedly, pretty easy to spot the bad guys from a jaded-reader point-of-view, I can understand why Fandorin doesn't suspect them earlier given his level of experience in things cloak and dagger. Regardless, Akunin is able to overcome minor weaknesses in the story through positive characterization and interesting plot twists. On a final note, just so you don't think this book is just for mid-thirties, male, computer-chair Jim West's, the Winter Queen was also read and enjoyed by one of my co-workers, a book-devouring, semi-retired, 70+ year-old woman. I hope you like the book.
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Summary: Brilliant Plot Twists and "Time Period" Feel
Review: If you like the detective-driven mystery genre, especially the old masters, you should enjoy THE WINTER QUEEN. Just when you think you know what will happen to our hapless hero, Erast, real life steps in and spins him in a different direction. Certain elements are expected, you will probably guess the villains' secret identities a little sooner than the detective, but other pieces will surprise and delight. The author and translator use a beautiful array of words which helps place the novel in time, so keep a dictionary near.
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